Tuning Packing, Structural Flexibility, and Porosity in 2D Metal-Organic Frameworks by Metal Node Choice

Understanding the key features that determine structural flexibility in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is key to exploiting their dynamic physical and chemical properties. We have previously reported a 2D MOF material, CuL1, comprising five-coordinate metal nodes that displays exceptional CO₂/N₂ selectively (L1 = bis(4-(4-carboxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazolyl)methane). Here we examine the effect of utilising six-coordinate metal centres (Co^II and Ni^II) in the synthesis of isostructural MOFs from L1, namely CoL1 and NiL1. The octahedral geometry of the metal centre within the MOF analogues precludes an ideal eclipse of the 2D layers, resulting in an offset stacking, and in certain cases, the formation of 2-fold interpenetrated analogues β-CoL1 and β-NiL1. We used a combination of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction (PXRD and SCXRD) to show that desolvation is accompanied by a structural change for NiL1, and complete removal of the coordinated H₂O ligands results in a reduction in long-range order. The offset nature of the 2D layers in combination with the structural changes impedes the adsorption of meaningful quantities of gases (N₂, CO₂), highlighting the importance of a five-coordinate metal centre in achieving optimal pore accessibility for this family of flexible materials.